Qin Shi: I only work eight hours

Chapter 385 The Grand Finale

Xu Lin did not get involved in the matter; he simply watched from a high vantage point, as there was no need for him to intervene.

The Snow Maiden and Xu Lin did not take things any further; what happened earlier was merely an act, a deliberate attempt to distance themselves from each other.

After Gao Jianli was injured, Xu Lin released Xue Nu's waist.

The snow woman lowered her beautiful eyes, seemingly wanting to say something but stopping herself.

The battle did not last long. Before sunset, Yan Dan, Zhang Liang, and Gao Jianli were captured alive, while Tian Guang, Da Tiechui, and others were riddled with arrows.

"Danzi."

"The Yan state has been destroyed, and you and I were once hostages in Handan."

"Considering our past relationship, I originally intended to spare your life, but..."

Ying Zheng looked down at Yan Dan, who was covered in blood.

He was interrupted by Yan Dan before he could finish speaking.

"Enough with the nonsense!"

"Kill me if you want!"

Yan Dan urged.

He and Ying Zheng were like two sides of the same coin; the more glorious Ying Zheng was, the more pathetic he became.

After Qin Shi Huang ascended to the throne and seized power, he became a eunuch.

After Qin Shi Huang unified the world, he was as anxious and lost as a stray dog.

"If that's the case, give him a quick death."

Ying Zheng stood with his hands behind his back.

He is not an indecisive person.

Before everyone's eyes, Yan Dan was cut in half at the waist, his flesh and blood mangled.

"ovary."

"How have I treated you since you entered Qin?"

Ying Zheng asked.

He was a man who valued talent, so even though Zhang Liang had plotted the assassination, he still wanted to give Zhang Liang another chance.

But Zhang Liang chose to commit suicide.

To prevent Zhang Liang from being completely dead, Zhao Gao beheaded him.

After dealing with Yan Dan and Zhang Liang, Ying Zheng left.

Ying Zheng captured Gao Jianli alive because Gao Jianli had a past relationship with Xu Lin.

Gao Jianli saw that Xue Nu looked very well, but he couldn't utter a single word even after opening his mouth for a long time.

As for the Snow Maiden, she had nothing to say to Gao Jianli.

She had tried to persuade Gao Jianli not to abandon the light for the darkness, but Gao Jianli was determined to die. What could she do?

Seeing this, Xu Lin ordered Gao Jianli to be killed.

After Gao Jianli's death, Xu Lin and Xue Nu returned to Xianyang.

Halfway through their journey, the Snow Maiden announced that she was now a member of the Quicksand and would not return to Xianyang for the time being.

Today we part ways, and who knows when we'll meet again.

Therefore, before parting ways, the snow woman took the initiative to bite her.

After biting the Snow Woman, he wanted to leave, but how could Xu Lin agree to that?

sleepless nights.

……

September.

Ying Zheng returned to Xianyang.

Both Ying Zheng and Fusu had many feelings during this eastern tour.

Fusu believed that taxes and levies should be reduced so that the people's hearts would be won over.

Ying Zheng believed that the six states in Shandong were too undisciplined and needed strict laws and punishments.

The matter was discussed in the imperial court.

Although Li Si studied under the great Confucian scholar Xunzi, he was a Legalist, and therefore supported harsh laws and severe punishments.

Wang Wan and others, however, felt that benevolent governance should be implemented.

Both sides stuck to their own versions of events, arguing fiercely and unable to reach a conclusion.

Xu Lin did not comment on this, because he thought arguing was good; maybe they would come up with an idea through arguing.

However, after arguing about this for more than a month, no good ideas came out.

Seeing that Xu Lin had no intention of getting involved in the matter, Zhao Ji had him invited to Ganquan Palace.

"Sir, you are a man of profound learning and wisdom, yet you are unwilling to help the Qin Dynasty overcome its difficulties?"

Zhao Ji was very dignified.

She is now the Empress Dowager, and her authority is growing stronger every day.

"Why does the Empress Dowager say this?"

Xu Lin smiled and asked in return.

"Sir, with your unparalleled talent, do you think our Great Qin is better suited to benevolent governance or strict laws and punishments?"

Zhao Ji asked.

She's no longer as love-obsessed as she used to be.

"It depends on the time."

“If it were before unifying the world, then strict laws and severe punishments would naturally be necessary.”

"This is the reason why harsh measures are used in times of chaos."

"Now that the world is unified, it is natural to need benevolent governance."

Xu Lindao.

Zhao Ji suddenly realized that Xu Lin was absolutely right.

But just as she was about to write down what Xu Lin had said and have it sent to Xianyang Palace, Xu Lin raised his hand to stop her.

"Does the Empress Dowager think His Majesty doesn't understand this principle?"

Xu Lin asked.

"What do you mean by that, sir?"

Zhao Ji looked puzzled.

The phoenix dress she wore was extremely elaborate and luxurious.

"Opinions vary, and it is up to Your Majesty to decide which method to adopt."

"It was not my suggestion."

Xu Lin explained.

"Are you leaving, sir?"

Zhao Ji had a bad feeling.

Judging from Xu Lin's expression, he was no longer willing to offer advice to Ying Zheng.

"Everyone will leave eventually, sooner or later."

Xu Lin did not deny it.

The world has been unified. After the Xiongnu are destroyed, he plans to take his wives and make the world their home.

In Xu Lin's view, reading ten thousand books is important, but traveling ten thousand miles is also very important!

"Are you really leaving, sir?"

Zhao Ji could no longer maintain her dignity as Empress Dowager.

She didn't want Xu Lin to leave.

"My ambitions lie not in the court, and the Empress Dowager knows this better than I do."

Xu Lin nodded.

Then he had Zhao Ji sit on his lap.

When are you leaving?

Zhao Ji was in low spirits.

"Maybe next year, maybe the year after."

Xu Lin asked uncertainly.

"May I go with you?"

Zhao Ji suddenly asked.

After she finished speaking, she sighed and shook her head.

She is the Empress Dowager, the mother of the nation; how could she be so willful?

If this gets out, not only will she become a laughing stock, but Ying Zheng will also be ridiculed.

Will the gentleman return?

After a long while, Zhao Ji asked.

"of course."

Xu Lin gently stroked the strands of hair behind Zhao Ji's ear.

……

Three months later.

Ying Zheng decided to emulate the previous system of parallel prefectures and kingdoms, while reducing taxes and levies and governing the country by law.

In Ying Zheng's view, nothing can be accomplished without rules, and it is absolutely unacceptable to have no rules.

But as Fusu and Wang Wan said, if we only use harsh laws and severe punishments, the hearts of the people of the six provinces of Shandong will never be won over.

When the Qin Dynasty unified China, what did it say to the outside world? "We saved the people from suffering."

If the people are still suffering after unifying the country, can it still be called saving the people from fire and water?

The Epang Palace is not that it cannot be built, but that it cannot be built now.

It's not that imperial tombs can't be built, but there's no rush, and there's no need to treat the dead as if they were alive.

Was the extravagant and wasteful construction of the imperial mausoleum, which led to the Qin Dynasty's demise after only two generations, something that Ying Zheng (Qin Shi Huang) likely desired?

As for the Great Wall, instead of conscripting laborers to build it, it would have been better to simply destroy the Xiongnu.

With mechanical beasts and the three treasures of equestrianism, what is there to fear from the Xiongnu?

……

the following year.

Ying Zheng allocated 300,000 troops to Meng Tian to attack the Xiongnu.

Considering that internal stability must precede external resistance, the Mohists, Confucians, Taoists, and Agriculturalists had already submitted to the government before this.

To prevent the various schools of thought from merely submitting superficially, Ying Zheng dispatched numerous assassins from the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven) and Shadow Guards to infiltrate them.

After Ying Zheng reclaimed control of the Luowang organization, the conflict between Zhao Gao and Fusu grew increasingly intense.

Zhao Gao needed a puppet, but Fusu was clearly unwilling to be one.

Because Xu Lin had already told Fusu that a great man should not remain subservient to others for long.

When Meng Tian was campaigning against the Xiongnu, Zhao Gao was imprisoned for protecting his clansmen.

Ying Zheng was busy with the war against the Xiongnu and did not pay attention to this matter.

By the time news of Meng Tian's great victory arrived, Zhao Gao had already been executed according to the law.

Zhao Gao has committed many crimes in recent years, not only by protecting his clansmen. If he hadn't been a favorite of Ying Zheng, he would have been executed long ago according to the law.

Upon learning of this, Ying Zheng did not punish Fusu.

What's wrong with Fusu acting in accordance with the law?

Ying Zheng even liked Fusu quite a bit because of his decisive and ruthless nature.

In Ying Zheng's view, a man should be decisive and ruthless.

Why were he and Xu Lin so close in private?

It's because both he and Xu Lin are decisive and ruthless!

After Zhao Gao's death, Meng Yi became Fusu's teacher.

Meng Yi often told Fusu stories about Ying Zheng and Xu Lin, which greatly benefited Fusu.

The Xiongnu were nomadic, moving with the water and pasture, making it extremely difficult to completely annihilate them.

Therefore, Xu Lin suggested using a combination of kindness and severity.

This is most likely his last suggestion.

Meng Tian wholeheartedly agreed with this.

Ying Zheng did not adopt the suggestion directly, but instead entrusted the matter to Fusu.

This is also a good opportunity to gain experience.

Fusu was flattered and surprised, so he summoned his ministers to discuss the matter.

Most of the officials agreed that Xu Lin was absolutely right, and that a combination of kindness and severity would be more appropriate.

Fusu readily agreed.

Ying Zheng was very satisfied with this.

Then he ordered a combination of kindness and force towards the Xiongnu.

Knowing they were no match for the Xiongnu, they had no choice but to submit and become their vassals.

And so, the Xiongnu became part of the Qin Dynasty.

Fusu believed that the same method could be used to deal with the Baiyue. Previously, Ying Zheng had wanted to directly destroy the Baiyue and then relocate the people.

Fusu thought it would be better to first make the Baiyue people submit and then gradually assimilate them.

Fusu volunteered to go to Baiyue with Wang Ben.

Through a combination of kindness and severity, the Baiyue people also became part of the Qin Dynasty.

Emperor Ying Zheng was overjoyed and made Fusu the crown prince.

As he grew older, Ying Zheng felt increasingly that his health was failing.

At this moment, Xu Fu of the Yin-Yang School stepped forward.

But before he could offer the elixir, he was stopped by the Moon Goddess.

As early as last year, Xu Lin had already asked the Moon Goddess to keep an eye on Xu Fu.

After confirming that the elixir was defective, the Moon Goddess imprisoned Xu Fu and then told Xu Lin about it.

"Who sent you?"

"Donghuang Taiyi?"

Xu Lin looked at Xu Fu, who had lost all his cultivation, and asked.

Xu Fu remained silent.

He dared not say that he had come on the orders of Donghuang Taiyi.

"Silence is an admission."

Xu Lindao.

Then they killed Xu Fu directly.

He's too lazy to waste time talking to people now.

What are your plans next?

The Moon Goddess asked.

"Haven't you always wanted to outdo your sister?"

"I'll help you."

Xu Lindao.

After he finished speaking, he told Ying Zheng about Xu Fu.

Without the tacit approval or instruction of Donghuang Taiyi, how could Xu Fu have dared to give Ying Zheng poisonous pills?

Therefore, Donghuang Taiyi must die!

……

Three days later.

The elite forces of the Luo Wang and Ying Mi Wei were deployed to completely surround the Jiugong Mountain in the capital.

At first, Donghuang Taiyi tried to put up a stubborn resistance, but she could only hold out for less than half an hour before she realized the reality.

After Donghuang Taiyi surrendered, Xu Lin had him imprisoned in Xianyang Prison.

Donghuang Taiyi said she had been deceived by Xu Fu; she had actually believed that the elixirs Xu Fu had refined could truly prolong life.

Xu Lin didn't believe it at first, but after using the truth serum, he discovered that what Donghuang Taiyi said was actually true.

That is why he didn't kill Donghuang Taiyi.

After Donghuang Taiyi was imprisoned in Xianyang Prison, Xu Lin helped Yue Shen ascend to the position of leader of the Yin-Yang School.

This made the Moon Goddess overjoyed.

This was the first time in her life that she had ever been one step ahead of Yan Fei.

Just as the Moon Goddess was about to ease her unhappiness, Yan Fei announced that she wanted to leave the Yin Yang School.

"???"

"Sister, are you such a sore loser?"

The Moon Goddess said irritably.

She's been losing since she can remember, and you can't even play anymore after losing just once?

It's not that I can't afford to lose.

"I wanted to leave the Yin-Yang School several years ago, but I haven't found a suitable opportunity yet."

Yan Fei's face remained calm and expressionless.

She doesn't care about winning or losing at all.

Upon hearing this, the Moon Goddess was so angry that her eyebrows stood on end, and then she drove away Yan Fei.

She knew that Yanfei had feelings for Xu Lin.

This time, she must get Xu Lin before Yan Fei does.

That evening, the Moon Goddess invited Xu Lin to Jiugong Mountain in the capital.

After several rounds of drinks, the Moon Goddess dismissed her attendants and gently loosened her silk robes.

……

In truth, the moon goddess still lost.

As early as the end of last year, Xu Lin and Yan Fei had taken their relationship to the next level.

……

October.

Xianyang, the capital of Qin.

Xu Lin bid farewell to Ying Zheng and left Xianyang with the women in his household.

Not only Jing Ni, Yan Ling Ji and others, but also Zi Nu, Madam Hu, Duanmu Rong, Ming Zhu, Yue Shen, Yan Fei and others.

"Where would you like to go first, my husband?"

Jingni asked.

Heading west.

Xu Lin replied.

Rome should already exist in this era, and he wanted to know what other countries existed besides Qin, Baiyue, and Xiongnu.

……

The End. (End of Chapter)